Outlet element

This application is a 371 National Phase of International Application No. PCT/EP2021/079230, filed Oct. 21, 2021, which claims priority to German Patent Application No. 20 2020 106 635.8, filed Nov. 19, 2020, both of which are incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth.

The invention relates to an outlet element for a sanitary fitting with a main element with at least one outlet opening, and a valve device which interacts with the main element, and with an actuating element, by way of which the valve device is adjustable, in particular rotatable, relative to the main element, in order to switch over between at least two separate water conduits.

An outlet element of this type is previously known from document EP 2 573 283 A1. The outlet element which is previously known from said document has a main element with at least one passage opening, which main element is intended for connecting to the outlet of a sanitary fitting. Furthermore, the outlet element has a device which interacts with the main element, a sleeve for fixing the device on the outlet, and an actuating element, protruding out of the sleeve, for the device, the device being rotatable with respect to the main element. The previously known outlet element is distinguished by the fact that the sleeve is provided for non-rotatable holding of the main element in the outlet, the device is a valve device which interacts with the main element for switching over between at least two separate water conduits, and the actuating element serves to actuate the valve device in such a way that one of the two separate water conduits is switched on and remains switched on until a switchover is carried out by the user again to the other water conduit.

The sleeve of the outlet element therefore serves not only to receive the actuating element for the device at least partially within itself, but rather also to fix the main element non-rotatably on the outlet of the sanitary fitting which is to be provided with the outlet element.

It is an object of the invention to provide an outlet element of the type mentioned at the outset which has a simpler construction in comparison with the previously known outlet element.

An outlet element with one or more of the features disclosed herein directed to an outlet element of this type is provided to achieve the object. In particular, it is therefore provided to achieve the object that the outlet element has a threaded coupling with an external thread, the threaded coupling being formed on the main element and being configured for holding the main element captively to the outlet.

In comparison with the outlet element previously known from document EP 2 573 283 B1, the outlet element according to the invention can therefore be fixed on the outlet of a sanitary fitting without a separate sleeve. A separate fastening sleeve, as is provided in the case of the outlet element of document EP 2 573 283 B1, can therefore be dispensed with. This simplifies the construction according to the invention and facilitates production and mounting thereof which are as simple as possible. While the outlet element which is previously known from the prior art is fixed by means of its sleeve on the sanitary fitting, this takes place in the case of the outlet element according to the invention via the external thread of the threaded coupling which is formed on the main element.

Here, the threaded coupling and the main element can form a materially homogeneous and/or monolithic unit.

In the case of one embodiment of the outlet element, the actuating element can be arranged on the outflow side of the threaded coupling. The threaded coupling is preferably arranged on an inflow side of the main element.

Furthermore, on its outflow side, the main element can have a projection, via which the valve device can be connected or is connected to the main element. With the aid of the projection, the main element and the valve device can be connected to one another to form one unit. It can be advantageous in this context if the valve device has a corresponding plug-in receptacle for the projection of the main element on its inflow side. Here, the outflow side can face away from the threaded coupling of the outlet element.

It is to be mentioned at this point that the reversed arrangement of projection and plug-in receptacle is also conceivable. In the case of one embodiment of the outlet element, the valve device can thus have, on its inflow side, a projection for connection to the main element. Correspondingly, the main element can then have a plug-in receptacle for the projection of the valve device.

The above-mentioned projections can be of annular configuration. Furthermore, it is possible that the projection of the main element is formed on the main element. It is likewise possible that the valve device has a projection which is annular and/or is formed on the valve device. The element which does not have any projection, that is to say either the valve device or the main element, can then be plugged onto the projection for the purpose of connection of the valve device to the main element. Here, the valve device can engage over the projection and/or surrounded on the outer side.

The valve device can preferably be rotated relative to the main element with the aid of the actuating element of the outlet element, in order to switch over the valve device and the main element relative to one another between the at least two switching positions of the at least two water conduits which are separate from one another.

The valve device and/or at least one part of the main element, in particular a, for example the above-mentioned, projection of the main element, can be arranged at least partially within a receiving space defined by the actuating element. The actuating element can be configured as an actuating sleeve which receives at least one part of the main element and/or the valve device within itself. In the case of one embodiment of the actuating element, the latter has an actuating wing which, for example, can project, in particular, radially outward from the main body of the actuating element, in order to be readily accessible for a user of the outlet element.

In the case of one embodiment of the outlet element, it is provided that the actuating element is fixed axially on the valve device.

The actuating element can be configured to actuate the valve device in such a way that one of the at least two separate water conduits is switched on and remains switched on until a switchover is carried out by the user again to the other water conduit.

In the case of one embodiment of the outlet element, at least one notch and at least one matching protrusion are configured between the main element and the valve device (), which notch and protrusion define at least one switching position of the valve device relative to the main element in a latched position. This can improve the operation of the outlet element and its switching accuracy. At least one notch is preferably configured on the main element, in particular on its projection, and at least one protrusion is configured on the valve device.

All of the Figures show at least parts of an outlet element which is denoted overall by 1. The outlet elementsare suitable for use in or on a sanitary fitting. Each outlet elementhas a main elementwhich is intended for connecting to an outlet of the sanitary fitting. Furthermore, each outlet elementcomprises a valve devicewhich interacts with the main elementand is adjustable (rotatable in the specific exemplary embodiments of the outlet elements) relative to the main elementbetween at least two switching positions in order to switch over between at least two separate water conduitsand.

Each main elementhas at least one outflow-side outlet opening. In the specifically shown embodiments of the outlet element, there are two outlet openings. Each water conduitsandare assigned in each case two inflow-side inlet openingsandof the valve device.

It is provided in all the outlet elementswhich are shown that the respective main elementhas a sealing element, by way of which, in each of the at least two switching positions, a transition between the two outflow-side outlet openingsof the main elementand the two inflow-side in the openingsandof the respectively connected water conduitsandcan be sealed.

The Figures show that the respective main elementhas a seal seat, in which the sealing elementis arranged. It becomes clear on the basis of, for example, that the seal seatand the sealing elementare arranged and configured in such a way that, in each of the at least two switching positions, right-angled projections of two of the inlet openingsandlie on the main elementwithin an outer edge of the seal seatand also the seal elementand, in addition, within a cross section, delimited by the seal seat, of the main element.

shows the seal seatwith the sealing elementin the case of a valve devicewhich is situated in a first switching position. It can be clearly seen that the inflow-side inlet openingsof the valve deviceare arranged in such a way that perpendicular projections of the inlet openingslie on the main elementwithin the outer edge of the seal seatand the outer edge of the sealing elementand, in addition, within a cross section, delimited by the seal seat, of the main element.

The same applies in the case of a valve devicewhich is situated in a second switching position with the inflow-side inlet openingsof the second water conduitsof the valve device. This can be seen clearly in.

According to, the seal seatis configured on an outflow sideof the main element. The inlet openingsof the water conduitsnoticeably differ with regard to their shape and size from the inlet openingsof the second water conduitsof the valve device.

The two outlet openingsof the main elementand at least one of the inlet openingsandof one of the at least two water conduits,of the valve devicehave the same cross section or at least approximately the same cross section. According to, they are the inflow-side inlet openingsof the second water conduits.

The seal seatis configured as an endless receiving groove and receives the sealing elementwithin itself. The sealing elementcan be called a seal ring in a figure-of-eight shape or else an hourglass-shaped seal ring.

The Figures illustrate that the main elementhas, on its inflow side, a threaded coupling, by way of which it can be screwed, for example, to an outlet piece of a sanitary fitting. An external threadis configured on the threaded coupling, by way of which external threadthe outlet elementcan be fastened via its main elementto an outlet of a sanitary fitting. The threaded couplingis formed on the main elementand is configured to hold the main elementcaptively on an outlet of a sanitary fitting.

On its outflow side, the main elementhas a projection, by which the valve deviceis connected to the main element. The projectionis of annular configuration and is formed on the main element, namely on the outflow side. In the use position, the valve deviceis plugged onto the projectionof the main element. The valve devicethus engages over the projectionand surrounds it on the outer side.

The outlet elementhas an actuating element, by way of which the valve deviceis adjustable, namely rotatable, relative to the main element, in order to switch over between the two separate water conduitsand. In all the embodiments which are shown of the outlet element, the actuating elementis arranged on the outflow side of the threaded coupling.

In the case of the two outlet elementswhich are shown in the figures, the actuating elementsare configured in such a way that the valve deviceand the projectionof the main elementare arranged at least partially within a receiving spacedefined by the actuating element. The actuating elementsare therefore actuating sleeves which can receive the valve deviceand the projectionof the main elementat least partially within themselves.

The actuating elementsof the outlet elementswhich are shown are fixed axially on the respective valve device.

Each of the actuating elementshas at least one actuating wing.

The respective actuating elementis configured to actuate the valve devicewhich is connected to it, in such a way that one of the at least two separate water conduits,is switched on and remains switched on until a switchover is carried out again by the user to the other water conduitsor.

show a jet splitterwhich, according to the exploded illustrations of the outlet elementof, is part of the valve deviceof the outlet element.

show that a total of four notcheswhich are offset at a 90° angle with respect to one another are configured on the projectionof the main element. The notchesdefine switching positions of the actuating elementand the valve device.

Two inwardly directed protrusionswhich match the notchesare configured on an inner side of the valve device. The protrusionslatch into the notcheswhen the valve deviceis moved into the switching positions by way of the actuating element.

It can be seen in the sectional illustration ofhow the actuating elementis fastened to the valve device. Furthermore,shows that the main elementis snapped to the valve device.

The invention is concerned with improvements in the field of sanitary technology. An outlet elementfor a sanitary fitting is thus provided, which outlet elementhas a main elementand a valve devicewhich is connected to the main elementand can be adjusted relative to the main elementbetween at least two switching positions in order to switch over between at least two separate water conduits,. In order for it to be possible for the outlet elementto be fixed to an outlet of a sanitary fitting in as simple a way as possible, the outlet elementhas a threaded couplingwith an external thread, the threaded couplingbeing formed on the main element.